On the subject of shirts, does anyone have a recomendation for a tailor or shirtmaker in Vancouver for taking in some shirts? I have a couple of shirts with fabric I really like, but they fit like tents.

I tried a place in Burnaby for shirts but the construction and quality of available cloths was mediocre ($125-175). I also tried Townline Tailors downtown who carries Thomas Mason Silverline at $200. When I got the shirt, I found no pattern matching and cheap plastic buttons. I then decided to try Jantzen in Hong Kong due to their popularity on this board. I did one test shirt to lock down my pattern and I did two subsequent orders that totalled twelve shirts. The price is right at about $50-60 per shirt. The construction and pattern matching is excellent although the selection of high quality fabrics is limited.

I then decided to try Jantzen in Hong Kong due to their popularity on this board. I did one test shirt to lock down my pattern and I did two subsequent orders that totalled twelve shirts. The price is right at about $50-60 per shirt. The construction and pattern matching is excellent although the selection of high quality fabrics is limited.

Geez, I don't see how you can beat that. For everyday work shirts, that's just great.

If you want to go upscale a little and stay local, give Julie Minichiello a call at 604-985-9222. You can get a nice shirt for about $240-$250, with good fabric choice, or a really exceptional one (in something like 170s) for a little over $300. I haven't tried stripes, so can't comment on pattern-matching, but with my two shirts from them so far, the fit has been excellent, stitching, single-needle, 20 stitches to the inch, and all details exactly as ordered. I have a couple more planned with them with some Alumo cotton I ordered.

On the subject of shirts, does anyone have a recomendation for a tailor or shirtmaker in Vancouver for taking in some shirts? I have a couple of shirts with fabric I really like, but they fit like tents.

I would think that any shirtmaker could do this; actually, probably any seamstress. You could try Julie Minichiello in North Van who's overseen two new shirt projects for me. Your shirt would probably just go out to their shirtmaking shop and be altered by one of the seamstresses in that shop. I don't imagine the cost would be high, since it's a pretty straightforward job.

I then decided to try Jantzen in Hong Kong due to their popularity on this board. I did one test shirt to lock down my pattern and I did two subsequent orders that totalled twelve shirts. The price is right at about $50-60 per shirt. The construction and pattern matching is excellent although the selection of high quality fabrics is limited.

Since I had some shirts that were made locally, I took the measurements from those, made some tweaks, and sent them to Jantzen. The test shirt I got back was perfect. I even specified things that were not listed on the Jantzen order page like arm hole size and arm width and it came as I asked.

It would be more difficult to get correct if you didn't have a shirt that already fit you well.

Very interesting, MI-6. I don't pretend to know of more than a very small number of the tailors in Vancouver and hadn't heard of Mr. Wong & Mr. Wong. Kind of a cool move, isn't it--going back to a location used by your family company in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, and 50s! I would not be surprised to hear that they're very competent tailors and would likely be worth a try for alterations at least. I wonder if any of the other Vancouverites on the forum know of them and the quality of their work.

I've been going to the other Tony at European Custom and I've been pleased but I may give them a try. Sometimes I forget to get out cash first so maybe Modernize will believe in Interac.

Hoff, how have you found Tony Tran? My sense was that he's probably pretty competent with the routine stuff (I've had him do pant alterations and cuffing), but maybe lacking Tony Arletto's sense of line and style.

Hoff, how have you found Tony Tran? My sense was that he's probably pretty competent with the routine stuff (I've had him do pant alterations and cuffing), but maybe lacking Tony Arletto's sense of line and style.

Unfortunately I've not been 100% satisfied. He is a pleasure to work with and is quite competent with, as you say, the basics. Sleeves, darts, hems, and jacket fittings have all gone well -- but he offered to de-pleat a pair of pants for me. I shouldn't have tested the procedure on a quality suit, so part of the blame goes to me, but I am not happy with the re-cut at all.

He has successfully slimmed down other pants for me with a re-cut but the de-pleating was a mistake. I do plan to take the pants back to him to see if he can repair them. I'm sure he will do so at no charge so I shouldn't pass judgment until he has a chance to fix the problem. I've never spoken with Tony Arletto but I think I will ask for him to join us to look at the pants so hopefully he will oversee the final product.

In regards to line or style I can't say as the most I've had done are shrink-to-fit type of changes.

Hoff, how have you found Tony Tran? My sense was that he's probably pretty competent with the routine stuff (I've had him do pant alterations and cuffing), but maybe lacking Tony Arletto's sense of line and style.